Adam Sandler to be honoured at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Adam Sandler will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).

The 59-year-old actor is best known for his comedic work but has shown his dramatic side in recent work including Uncut Gems and his latest movie Jay Kelly, and in recognition, he will be honoured at the event next February, where he will join Leonard Maltin for an on-stage conversation about his career.

Leonard said in a statement: “Adam Sandler won me over when he sang The Hanukkah Song on SNL, then amassed a huge following in tailor-made movies like The Waterboy and The Wedding Singer.

"I love that he’s left his comfort zone and delivered potent performances in Uncut Gems and Jay Kelly. I can’t wait to share the stage with him in Santa Barbara."

The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 to honour individuals who have enriched culture through their accomplishments in the movie industry, and it was renamed in honour of SBIFF moderator and celebrated critic Leonard in 2015.

Past recipients have included screen stars Angelina Jolie, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Robert Downey Jr., Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, and Christopher Plummer, and directors Sir Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, and Sir Peter Jackson.

News of Adam's award comes after SBIFF previously announced Michael B. Jordan will be given the Performance of the Year accolade for his work on Sinners.

SBIFF’s Executive Director, Roger Durling, said earlier this month: “I have been a stalwart Michael B. Jordan fan since his days on ‘The Wire,’ and now he’s a bonafide box office star giving one of the year’s most intricate performances – make that two – in Sinners.

“He does incredibly nuanced work creating two specific characters – the brothers Smoke and Stack – and when they interact with each other, it’s pure alchemy.”

And Cynthia Erivo will receive the Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film, which she will receive before the festival at a ceremony in December.

Michael Douglas previously said in a statement: "Cynthia Erivo is a singular talent whose depth, range, and fearless commitment to her craft embody the spirit of excellence my father championed throughout his life. It’s entirely fitting that she receives the Kirk Douglas Award, which celebrates bold artistry and enduring impact in film."

The annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film has been awarded since 2006 and has previously been given to the likes of Will Ferrell, Ryan Gosling, Hugh Jackman, Dame Judy Dench, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta, and Michael himself.